Backpack having a detachable wheeled frame

ABSTRACT

A combination backpack with detachable wheeled frame, the backpack attaching to the frame by joining an attachment on the upper and lower portion of the frame to a mate on the upper and lower portion of the backpack, and having a flap which can be wrapped around the wheeled frame and fastened to the backpack to secure the backpack to the wheeled frame.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a backpack having a detachable wheeledframe, and more particularly to a wheeled backpack and frame combinationwherein the backpack and the frame include a mechanism to attach thebackpack to the frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] An increase in awareness of injuries resulting from carryingheavy loads and a need for convertible luggage to meet traveler andcommuter demands have led to the development of backpacks with wheels sothat users may wheel their backpack behind them when it is too heavy orinconvenient to carry on their backs.

[0003] For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,749,503 and Des. 375,402 relate toluggage that may be converted and used as a wheeled-suitcase, a backpackor a hand-carried bag. In addition, U.S. Patent Application Pub. No.2002/0162716 (“'716 application”) shows a backpack that may be attachedto a collapsible carrier. According to the '716 application, thebackpack or the carrier may have wheels.

[0004] Backpacks with wheels and a built in frame tend to be ratheruncomfortable for the wearer. One object of the present invention allowsthe owner to remove the frame when wearing the backpack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The objects of the invention can be attained and thedisadvantages of the prior wheeled backpack combinations can be overcomeby providing a backpack attachable to a wheeled frame, comprising incombination, a backpack having a main compartment and a wheeledremovable frame. The backpack may also have a secondary compartment forcarrying the wheeled frame when not in use. The backpack may furtherinclude a flap extending from one side of the rear wall to the otherside thereof. The flap is releasably secured to the backpack on theother side using one or more fasteners. A wheeled detachable framecarries the backpack, and has a base portion on which the backpack sits,at least one vertical support bar, a handle, and a pair of wheels. Theframe includes a pair of fasteners for attaching the backpack to thewheeled frame. The first fastener is located on an upper portion of theframe, and attaches to an upper position of the backpack. The secondfastener is located on a lower portion of the frame, and attaches to thelower portion of the backpack. The flap holds the frame against thebackpack using snaps or similar fasteners and conceals the frame whenattached to the backpack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The features and advantages of the invention will become apparentupon review of the following detailed description of preferredembodiments, taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the wheeled backpackand frame combination of the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of the wheeled backpackand frame combination of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a rear view of the backpack and frame combination of thepresent invention;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a rear view of the wheeled backpack and framecombination of the present invention with the flap and straps released;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a side view of the wheeled frame and backpackcombination of the present invention showing removal of the backpackfrom the frame; and

[0012]FIG. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of the frame for usein the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the backpack and collapsible framecombination 8 of the present invention includes a backpack 10 releasablymounted on a collapsible wheeled frame 20. The backpack 10 includes ahandle 11, a main compartment 12, a front compartment 13, shoulderstraps 14 with clips 15, and a flap 16 with snaps 17 or other closures,such as a zipper, Velcro, clips, buttons, and the like. The flap 16covers a portion of the frame 20 when the backpack 10 is attachedthereto, for esthetic enhancement, but the flap 16 may also be padded toimprove comfort for the wearer. In addition, the flap 16 helps to securethe backpack 10 to the frame 20. The backpack 10 may be made of nylon orsome other durable fabric or material, and can include severalcompartments and pockets that close with zippers or flaps, to holdbooks, writing instruments, calculators, cell phones, snacks and thelike. The main compartment includes front 50 and rear 52 walls, two sidewalls, 54, 56 and top 58 and bottom 60 walls. The clips 15 and the snapclosures 17 may be any suitable fastening devices, such as hooks, clips,snaps, Velcro or the like. The clips 15 and snaps 17 may be made fromplastic, metal or any suitable material, such as spring steel or brass.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 4-5, the wheeled frame 20 includes a base 21,vertical support bars 22, horizontal support bars 23, a retractablehandle 24, an axle 25, wheels 26, fenders 27, a pivoting attachment 28with one or more fasteners 29, and stabilizing feet 31. The wheeledframe 20 and its components may be made from any suitable lightweightmaterial or combination of materials, for example, aluminum, plastic orthe like, or a combination thereof such that the frame 20 can supportthe weight of a full backpack 10, while remaining lightweight enough tobe handled by a school-age child. The wheels 26 may be conventionalsolid plastic or rubber wheels, or ball bearing and plastic wheels, suchas may be found on in-line skates.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 3-5, when attached to the wheeled frame 20,the backpack 10 sits on the base 21. The rear wall 52 of the backpack 10rests against the front side of the vertical 22 and horizontal 23support bars. The backpack 10 is secured to the wheeled frame 20 bysecuring the pivoting attachment 28 to the backpack 10 with closures,such as snaps 29, that mate with closures on the backpack 10.Preferably, there are two such attachments, one on the upper portion ofthe frame 20, adjacent the handle 24 on the frame 20, the other adjacentor included in the base 21. The upper attachment 28 may be hinged orpivoted, and the fasteners 29 attached thereto may be snaps or otherfastening devices, such as hooks, clips, Velcro or the like.

[0016] In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 6, the upper attachment maybe a strip of Velcro or snaps 34 placed directly on a horizontalcross-piece or brace 23, as shown in FIG. 6. Velcro, a well-known andreadily available material, widely used in the luggage industry, usuallyincludes two opposed gripping pieces, often in the form of a tape orribbon, one side having hooks, and one side having loops. Either side 34can be attached to the horizontal cross-piece 23, provided its mate getsattached to an adjacent portion of the backpack 10, to help to hold thebackpack 10 against the frame 20. The lower horizontal support 23 andthe base 21 may also include a Velcro attachment 34. As mentioned above,other attachments may be used, including snaps 29.

[0017] The snaps 29 may be made from durable plastic or any suitablemetal, such as steel, brass or the like. Preferably, the pivotingattachment 28 will include the male or female portion of a snap 29,while the backpack 10 will have the male portion 29 of the snap orVelcro (for example) in position to join with the one on the attachment28 to secure the upper portion of the backpack 10 to the frame 20.

[0018] Likewise, the frame 20 has an attachment 28 to secure the lowerportion of the backpack 10 to the lower portion of the frame 20, or tothe base 21 itself. As with the upper attachment 28, the lowerattachment 28 includes one side of a snap or Velcro pair 34, while thebackpack 10 has the other side, to provide a secure attachment to thelower portion of the frame 20. Together, the upper and lower attachments28 releasably secure the backpack to the frame 20, providing for easyremoval by the user.

[0019] The optional flap 16 on the backpack 10 is wrapped around theback side of the vertical 22 and horizontal 23 support bars, and issecured to the backpack with snaps 17, Velcro, or other suitablefastening devices. The backpack 10 is also secured to the wheeled frame20 by wrapping the shoulder straps 14 around the upper horizontalsupport bar 23 and the vertical support bars 22, and then fastening theclips 15 on the lower portion of the backpack 10.

[0020] Still referring to FIGS. 4-5, the backpack 10 is detached fromthe wheeled frame 20 by releasing the snaps 17 from flap 16 of thebackpack 10, so that the flap 16 can be opened, and by releasing thesnaps 29 so that the pivoting attachment 28 can be hinged upward. Theclips 15 are also released to unwrap the shoulder straps 14 from aroundthe vertical support bars 22. Once the backpack 10 is removed from thewheeled frame 20, the flap 16 is refastened to the backpack 10 bysnapping together the snaps 17 on each portion. The clips 15 are alsorefastened to reattach the shoulder straps 14.

[0021] When not in use, the wheeled frame 20 may be collapsed byretracting the handle 24 as low as possible into the vertical supportbars 22. The base portion 21 may be hinged or pivoted so that it foldsupward to become parallel with the vertical support bars 22. Similarly,the stabilizing feet 31 may also be pivoted to fold away into the base21. The size of the wheeled frame 20 may be further reduced by providingremovable wheels 26 and fenders 27.

[0022] The folded wheeled frame 20 and its removable parts may be placedin one of the compartments in the interior of the backpack 10 for easycarrying and concealment when not in use, or it may be attached to thebackpack 10 using optional Velcro or elastic straps 32. The detachedwheeled frame 20 is preferably attached to the backpack 10 on a portionaway from the back of a user to avoid discomfort, such as the front orside of the backpack 10.

[0023] While this invention has been described in terms of specificembodiments, this invention, including this disclosure and appendedclaims, is intended to be construed in accordance with the full spiritand scope of the invention, including alternatives, modifications, andequivalents apparent to those of skill in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination backpack and detachable wheeledframe, comprising: a backpack having a main compartment, a pair ofshoulder straps and an upper attachment to mate with an upper portion ofthe frame; a wheeled frame attachable to and detachable from thebackpack, comprising a base for supporting the backpack, at least onevertical member, a handle, an attachment to attach the frame to an upperportion of the backpack; and an attachment to releasably attach a lowerportion of the backpack.
 2. A combination backpack and detachablewheeled frame as recited in claim 1, additionally comprising a flap,which extends from one side of a rear wall on the backpack to the otherside thereof where it releasably attaches to the backpack holding thevertical member between the flap and the rear wall of the backpack.
 3. Acombination backpack and detachable wheeled frame according to claim 1,wherein the rotatable attachment pivots from a horizontal memberpositioned near the handle of the frame.
 4. A combination backpack anddetachable wheeled frame in accordance with claim 3, wherein therotatable attachment is hinged to the horizontal member and releasablyattaches the backpack to the frame using snaps, Velcro, clips, hooks, orclasps.
 5. A combination backpack and detachable wheeled frame inaccordance with claim 3, wherein the pivoting attachment and thebackpack releasably attaches to each other using snaps.
 6. A combinationbackpack and detachable wheeled frame in accordance with claim 3,wherein the pivoting attachment and the backpack releasably attaches toeach other using Velcro.
 7. A combination backpack and detachablewheeled frame in accordance with claim 3, wherein a lower portionattachment of the backpack attaches to a lower portion of the frame withVelcro.
 8. A combination backpack and detachable wheeled frame inaccordance with claim 3, wherein the backpack attaches to the frameincludes a base having a Velcro strip thereon to mate with a Velcrostrip on a lower portion of the backpack.